NHL insider Chris Johnston released his first 2026 NHL off-season trade board for The Athletic. While no current Chicago Blackhawks players were listed on Johnston's trade board, the Original Six club's fourth-overall pick was. "Similar to the scenario with the Sharks at No. 2, the prospect-rich Blackhawks are open to the possibility of moving off a valuable pick if they can get something back that improves them in the present," Johnston wrote [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7313162/2026/05/28/nhl-offseason-trade-board-trocheck-knies-robertson/]. If the Blackhawks were to trade the fourth-overall pick, it would undoubtedly be a major deal. The only way it would make sense for Chicago is if they were bringing in a proven star who would upgrade their group in a significant way. The fourth-overall pick could a great trading asset for the Blackhawks to use a first-line winger or a high-impact left-shot defenseman. Yet, with the Blackhawks rebuilding, it would also make sense if they decided to keep their fourth-overall pick and bring in another exciting prospect to their system. It is going to be very interesting to see what the Blackhawks decide to do with the fourth-overall pick. It is likely that there would be a lot of interest in it, but time will tell what the Blackhawks decide to do.
